The Goethe-Institut Los Angeles (GILA) is the new home of the Goethe-Institut, the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany. The new 4,561 square foot cultural center, housed within an existing commercial building in MacArthur Park, is defined by minimal, architectural forms that highlight and contrast the rawness of the existing shell to create a versatile, multifunctional venue for the GILA’s diversity of uses, functions, and programs. The heart of the renovated ground floor is the Event Space, an uninterrupted open space for public exhibitions, film screenings, performances, social engagements, and various other creative uses. Designed to maximize flexibility, interior walls and architectural forms are arranged on the periphery of the Event Space to create a flexible “stage set” for special events and everyday activities alike. The GILA offices, located toward the rear, are defined by abstract volumes with interior skylights that bring natural light into the workspaces. When viewed from the mezzanine, these forms create their own skyline within the building, adjacent to the public open space. The neutral palette of materials compliments the existing rough building shell and focuses the attention on GILA’s diverse exhibitions, presentations, and events.